Pocahontas County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Name: Pocahontas County, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Pocahontas County, Iowa has a population of 7,046, the 91st most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $61,875 and the median home value is $98,100. The poverty rate is 10.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Pocahontas County Quick Facts

Population 7,046

Median Household Income $61,875

Median Home Value $98,100

Poverty Rate 10.3%

Unemployment Rate 5.4%

Median Age 43.7 years

Homeownership Rate 77.3%

Affordability Ratio 1.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.7%

High School Graduation 90.6%

Cities/Places 8

Population 7,046 91st of 99

Median Income $61,875 18% lower than state

Poverty Rate 10.3%

Unemployment 5.4%

How Pocahontas County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	7,040	7,046	+0.1%
Median household income	$63,423	$61,875	-2.4%
Median home value	$93,300	$98,100	+5.1%

Median Household Income

Pocahontas

$61,875

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Pocahontas

$98,100

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.8%

$25K-$50K 26.9%

$50K-$100K 31.6%

$100K+ 27.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.1%

$10K-$15K

2.0%

$15K-$20K

3.2%

$20K-$25K

4.5%

$25K-$30K

3.3%

$30K-$35K

6.5%

$35K-$40K

3.5%

$40K-$45K

7.8%

$45K-$50K

5.9%

$50K-$60K

7.6%

$60K-$75K

12.7%

$75K-$100K

11.3%

$100K-$125K

11.5%

$125K-$150K

5.6%

$150K-$200K

6.9%

$200K+

3.7%

Employment

5.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

61.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.3%

Renter 22.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $832/mo 16.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.3%

18-34

17.4%

35-54

19.7%

55-74

28.7%

75+

10.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Pocahontas County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Pocahontas	1,763	$66,574	8.7%	$106,100
Laurens	1,206	$48,988	15.0%	$60,300
Rolfe	626	$51,250	13.5%	$48,500
Fonda	589	$54,853	10.8%	$58,500
Havelock	162	$63,229	23.5%	$23,800
Palmer	134	$59,063	32.1%	$39,600
Plover	45	$41,250	17.8%	N/A
Varina	29	$50,625	3.5%	$55,000

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Pocahontas County is located in Iowa with a total population of 7,046. It is the 91st most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pocahontas County is 43.7 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pocahontas County is $61,875. This is 18% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 51% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $98,100. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Pocahontas County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pocahontas County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

18.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Pocahontas County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Pocahontas County, Iowa?

Pocahontas County has a population of 7,046, making it the 91st most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Pocahontas County?

The median household income in Pocahontas County is $61,875 with a poverty rate of 10.3%.

How many cities are in Pocahontas County, Iowa?

Pocahontas County contains 8 Census-designated places.